The Association of Finnish Technical Traders: Communications Manager as a Service

Starting Point

The Association of Finnish Technical Traders is a respected and long-standing networking partner in the technical trade sector, with roots dating back to 1918. The association represents the interests of the industry, provides its members with forward-looking insights into market developments, legislation, and the business environment, and supports the continuous development of member companies’ expertise.

The association’s in-house experts are fully committed to delivering these core services. As a result, there was a clear need for consistent yet flexible communication support. While the volume of communication work was substantial, it did not justify hiring a full-time communications professional.

Solution: A Part-Time Communications Manager Embedded in Daily Operations

A seasoned Mailand communications consultant stepped in to serve as the association’s outsourced Communications Manager. Dedicating two days per week exclusively to the association’s communication needs, the consultant works regularly on-site at the association’s headquarters in Eteläranta, Helsinki. This hybrid model has enabled close collaboration and seamless integration into the team, contributing to everything from communication strategy to planning the summer party.

The Communications Manager oversees media and public affairs communications, maintains and updates the website, manages social media channels, and runs campaigns. Meanwhile, the association’s internal experts handle member and stakeholder communications, supported by the consultant’s guidance and expertise whenever needed.

A Relationship Built on Trust

From the very beginning, the collaboration has been founded on mutual trust and open communication. The consultant’s regular presence in the office makes communications more approachable and accessible for the staff. Knowing that a dedicated professional is keeping the big picture in view and managing the overall communication landscape has eased the workload across the organization.

Impact Reflected in Member Surveys

This close collaboration has been ongoing since 2018, and its value is clearly reflected in annual member satisfaction surveys: both satisfaction with communications and the perceived importance of communications have steadily increased over the years.

Satisfaction with communications (scale 1–4):
2023: 3.50
2020: 3.46
2019: 3.44
2017: 3.10

Perceived importance of communications (scale 1–4):
2023: 3.15
2020: 3.12
2019: 3.09
2017: 2.63